Show Notes
Hip-hop month continues with a song from one of the greatest hip-hop acts of all time: Public Enemy. I've enlisted the help of someone who knows the cinema, Christien Murawski from the Quarter to Three Movie Podcast, to discuss "Burn Hollywood Burn". Heads up for our younger listeners: Some explicit rap lyrics after the jump.
You can pick up the song on iTunes, Amazon Music, and Google Play.
While it's a bit fuzzy, there is an official music video. For you purists out there, just beware that it uses a longer version of the song that starts to repeat itself at the end. Not quite as good as the album cut, in my opinion.
And, of course, the lyrics: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Burn Hollywood Burn" [CHUCK D:] Burn Hollywood burn I smell a riot Goin' on first they're guilty now they're gone Yeah I'll check out a movie But it'll take a Black one to move me Get me the hell away from this TV All this news and views are beneath me Cause all I hear about is shots ringin' out So I rather kick some slang out All right fellas let's go hand out Hollywood or would they not Make us all look bad like I know they had But some things I'll never forget yeah So step and fetch this shit For all the years we looked like clowns The joke is over smell the smoke from all around Burn Hollywood burn
[ICE CUBE:] Ice Cube is down with the PE Now every single bitch wanna see me Big Daddy is smooth word to muther Let's check out a flick that exploits the color Roamin' thru Hollywood late at night Red and blue lights what a common sight Pulled to the curb gettin' played like a sucker Don't fight the power ... the mother fucker
[BIG DADDY KANE:] As I walk the streets of Hollywood Boulevard Thinin' how hard it was to those that starred In the movies portrayin' the roles Of butlers and maids slaves and hoes Many intelligent Black men seemed to look uncivilized When on the screen Like a guess I figure you to play some jigaboo On the plantation, what else can a nigger do And Black women in this profession As for playin' a lawyer, out of the question For what they play Aunt Jemima is the perfect term Even if now she got a perm So let's make our own movies like Spike Lee Cause the roles being offered don't strike me There's nothing that the Black man could use to earn Burn Hollywood burn
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So listen, watch, read, and join us on Wednesday for the discussion.
More from They're Playing Our Song
Special guest, Diana Parry-Cruwys, finally gets another chance to pick a song of her very own with this week's "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) by alt-country, prolific rocker, Ryan Adams. Not the guy who sang "Summer of '69". We discuss how unlike My Bloody Valentine this song is, how hard it is to pick just one song when you write an album a year, how drugs are bad. Stay in school kids.
Even though she's been our special guest more than anyone else, poor Diana Parry-Cruwys has only gotten to pick one song all on her own. Well, we're making up for it by talking about Ryan Adams' "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)" this week. Diana then fell asleep before we could record and I forgot to post the preview blurb...so we're going to be a little late this week. Please don't think this reflect poorly on how much I appreciate my wife's taste in music.
A return visit from Jack Every to the TPOS studio gets us bringing the funk. Noise may be brought as well. Regardless, we spend a pleasant time talking about the amazing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "I Learned the Hard Way". What makes this modern take on the Motown sound so cool? And does anybody know how to make a hang-up click on a cell phone? We're plumbing unknown genres this week, folks! Also, a rare TV recommendation unrelated to music but correlated with deliciousness.
Returning guest and math teacher extrordinaire, Jack Every, returns to ensure the unrepresented genre of Motown gets its due by talking with us about Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings "I Learned the Hard Way", a song I had never heard of before last week. Which is reason enough to listen in.
After comparing our local classic rock stations (RIP, radio), super-guest and music encyclopedia, Chris Hornbostel, and I get into the deep talk about The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter". Buy why is it an amazing song? Not just because it captures the turmoil of the 60's, not just because it's a secretly scary song, not just because of Keith Richards blusey, jazzy guitar, not just because of Mick Jagger's excellent lyrics, not just because of Merry Clayton's virtuouso performance, not just because of Charlie Watts' perfect snare beats, but...well, listen to the episode to find out. Let's celebrate the end of the peace and love era together, shall we?